Botafogo Stuns PSG in FIFA Club World Cup, Atletico Madrid Dominates Seattle Sounders

LOS ANGELES: In a stunning upset at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Brazilian team Botafogo defeated European powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-0 in a FIFA Club World Cup group stage match on Thursday.

Despite PSG’s significant ball possession, Botafogo’s strong defense kept the French champions at bay. The pivotal moment occurred in the 36th minute when Jefferson Savarino intercepted a pass in midfield and sent a precise through ball to Igor Jesus.

The forward skillfully evaded two defenders before unleashing a shot that deflected off PSG’s Willian Pacho, deceiving the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net, igniting the crowd’s excitement.

In the second half, Botafogo maintained their defensive structure and withstood sustained pressure from PSG. Although PSG believed they had leveled the score in the 79th minute, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. Botafogo successfully defended their lead to claim a memorable victory.

Botafogo’s head coach, Renato Paiva, praised his team’s cohesion and tactical implementation following the game.

“To become a great team, it is important play together, with everyone defending and attacking. This is the key to this PSG team, enabling them to compete and win,” Paiva stated.

He encouraged his players to perform as a unified team—attacking and defending collectively—which they executed effectively.

“They are a remarkable team. As I said, PSG is a model for modern football. I urged my players to simply be a team, enjoy playing together, attack together, defend together, and enjoy the experience. And they accomplished it. Fantastic.”

Elsewhere, Spanish club Atletico de Madrid showcased a dominant performance, defeating Seattle Sounders 3-1 in another group stage encounter.